Why Miyazaki is a True Romantic

Is Miyazaki a modern day Romanticist? What makes Kiki's Delivery Service a particularly great film? This video is largely inspired by an essay by Brendan C. Walsh, which you can check out here: www.researchgate.net/publicat...
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Thumbnail by Nick Woodcock
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Sources:
Brendan C. Walsh (2019) A Modern-Day Romantic: The Romantic Sublime in Hayao Miyazaki’s Creative Philosophy, Comparative Literature: East & West, 3:2, 176-191,
Kurita, Kyoko. “Koda Rohan and the Origin of Modern Japanese Romanticism.’” PhD diss. Yale University, 1992. Print.
Napier, Susan J. “Confronting Master Narratives: History as Vision in Miyazaki Hayao’s Cinema of De-Assurance.” Positions: East Asia Cultures Critique 9.2 (2001): 467-93. Print.
Okada, Akiko. Keats and English Romanticism in Japan. Bern, Switzerland; New York: Peter Lang, 2006. Print.
Unnamed Films (In Order of Appearance):
Whisper of the Heart (1995)
The Wind Rises (2013)
Music:
Glass Off - Bernie Leadon
Song of India - Andre Kostelanetz
Summer Rain - Suzanne Menzel
Background Painting:
Ships in a Storm - Ivan Aivazovsky (1860)
Instagram: / broey_deschanel
Twitter: / deschanelbroey

[@BroeyDeschanel]

cancelling myself for the wack pronunciation of Totoro :^( why did she do that

[@meowglab7702]

“ToRtoro”..... we forgive you haha :))

[@DIRTY-MERLIN]

now i want to go eat a torta

[@jxoosy]

my neighbor tortilla

[@frogcharm2566]

omg no it’s okay!!! It happens!! You have so many lovely ideas in this. I’m such a fan of Wordsworth and Keats, so I truly enjoyed this piece

[@sageybug3868]

I read this before watching the vid and I was like 'surely its not THAT bad :)' and then u really went and said tortoro 😭😭

[@DrWHO-jv5qi]

Also, at the end of the film, Kiki is never able to talk with her cat again. That symbolizes something really heartbreaking and real for me. It means she has lost a part of herself and her magic, her origins when she comes to the city. That one moment I realized how powerful this film really was when she never regained the ability.

[@Digitallavender2000]

I ALWAYS cry at that 😭

[@ventricity]

It means she has grown up. That is the theme

[@theartofjayden1761]

Actually, I don’t believe that is what Miyazaki intended with that at all. She has grown. Her cat could never talk, but that was something in Kiki’s imagination. Like you used to believe your dolls were real and your pets could talk and stuff like that. It is not sad at all, for this shows how much Kiki has grown.

[@JohannesWiberg]

@@theartofjayden1761 This two interpretations aren't fully in conflict, though. She came to the city and grew up, she lost some rural childishness and gained some urban savvy, and she can no longer connect to her cat friend on that deep, possibly imaginary level. It is certainly a loss for her, even if it was inevitable. I find it both sad and necessary.

[@jjfrenzy789]

I thought it came back after she got her magic back.

[@sifatshams1113]

I often find myself fantasizing about an alternate universe in which the live-action Harry Potter movies don't exist and are instead replaced by 2D animated feature-length films by Miyazaki, who is a huge Potterhead.

[@BroeyDeschanel]

:o that would be amazing

[@MoMo-cf1qn]

Dude I want to live in that reality so bad

[@tvsonicserbia5140]

Well Steven Spielberg ALMOST made a 2D animated Harry Potter film, with Harry voiced by Haley Joel Osment, and in my book, Spielberg is basically the western Miyazaki

[@lunarmagpie619]

I’m begging you to read another series that isn’t written by an antisemitic transphobe ❤️

[@johnnyguitar8067]

@@lunarmagpie619 oh fuck off back to safe space.

[@buriedtakethewheel2646]

It's worth noting that, in the original Japanese, it's unclear if Kiki is able to talk to Jiji again once she regains her powers. This connection to the natural world comes more easily as a child and though she has regained her sense of self by returning to nature something is lost. This process may be an inescapable part of growing up.

[@eranavni-singer9189]

I love how Kiki didn’t have some magical exceptionalism inside her that bursts out in the end and saves the day. She’s triumphs because she is herself and she isn’t trying to be some massive accomplishment like the blimp and she ends up stronger than the blimp ever could have been

[@Animechick7797]

Miyazaki is the true king of animation

[@Michael-wp2vq]

I watched Kiki for the first time this year and, as a creative in a rut and feeling like my life is defined by others, it broke me. The beautiful artwork reminded me of the simplicity of nature and inspired a deep part within me. I’d never felt more in sync with a film in my entire life and, from beginning to end, it really revealed the ways in which , like Kiki, I too need time to breathe between the bouts of pressure. The ending was so true to life as she didn’t get her power back right away, and struggled back into swing with her passion. I could go on and on about this movie though.

[@Ronaldsframes]

I’m thinking now of Kiki too in regards to my life and rut now too. (I just discovered this channel, so I’m like 9 months late I guess .) What a great thing to share.

[@EyebrowCinema]

Beautiful work, and kudos for choosing a not so obvious movie to center analysis on.

[@BroeyDeschanel]

they very same to you!! :)

[@netraeng8676]

Sublime indeed!

[@messypalette]

There's something so calming about the way you talk, it honestly makes every video such a pleasure to watch!

[@sammyvictors2603]

This is why Miyazaki is one of my inspirations as an aspiring writer. I consider myself a romantic, albeit an enlightened, liberal, open-minded and inclusive one.

[@ryanscates1011]

I often find myself in a similar position, except I'm more leftwing and I know Miyazaki is fairly leftwing, so we're both leftist romantics. I don't think Miyazaki is an anti-technology luddite or anarcho-primitivist, but instead, like a lot of leftists, is critical of how technology is so often used and abused by those with capital and power for their benefit. Such as how automation could mean an end to the need to work for the sake of keeping society running in a socialist society because you don't need to worry about survival, but instead in a capitalist society, because the ability to survive is tied to your ability to stay employed, automation is a threat. Castle in the Sky makes this clear in my view where the incredible, advanced abilities of Laputa are a marvel to behold but because of how their technology became a tool of militarist, imperialist dominance, it became their downfall.

[@abhiasokkumar8536]

@@ryanscates1011 same! i hope to write stories like miyazaki one day that conveys anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist sentiments that shows socialism through a soft romanticized lens that people would WANT

[@Ismael-kc3ry]

Yeah same. He’s one of the main inspirations of my writing

[@vandalsavage6743]

I was agreeing with you until you said "enlightened" Sounding pretty narcissistic

[@sammyvictors2603]

@@vandalsavage6743 in reference to the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment to the Romantic dichotomy.

[@lpssuperlove201]

I’m so grateful for kikis delivery service, I grew up watching it and I don’t think I’d be the same person without it. I’ve never thought about it like this beautiful amazing!! Incredible thinking every time I watch it I think I know everything but I’m always proven wrong!! Thank you

[@GPerla26]

Omg someone else bringing in Romanticism and the Sublime to Miyazaki 😭😭 I actually told a professor of mine for a Romanticism class to watch Princess Mononoke 👏🏽👏🏽

[@DazzReviews]

This was interesting! Good stuff!

[@BroeyDeschanel]

Thanks so much :) yours was awesome too!!!

[@motherrussia73]

Kiki's wasn't a movie that I truly appreciated for what it was until I got older (same story for Whisper of the Heart). Thank you for so beautifully articulating the ephemeral quality of these movies and how impactful they are!

[@BriarMB13]

I really needed this today, I've been so down since my cat died. Definitely gonna go watch these movies with a whole new appreciation, and go have a Good cry. Thank you💌

[@BroeyDeschanel]

I'm so sorry about your cat :(

[@BriarMB13]

@@BroeyDeschanel thanks dude, it's appreciated💜 Your videos are great, and genuinely have been a source of small joys in my life lately 😭

[@Sakyo597]

I hope gigi doesn't make you sad

[@BriarMB13]

@@Sakyo597 oh god no, gigi is more like my other cat, Michael Meowers. D.o.g. (childhood cat that we had to put down in november) was a monster of a cat, 20 lbs of straight muscle and Love. His mom was our neighbor's purebred siamese and his dad was the big ass, neighborhood tom cat. I miss my boy yelling at me to cuddle every day; the grief is there but the relief of knowing he's not in pain anymore really makes me happy.

[@Sakyo597]

@@BriarMB13 That's good to hear

[@aidanmoyer3383]

YES YES YES Kiki's delivery service has been my rock this year, it has just completely enraptured me. its far deeper than anyone gives it credit for.

[@MrBioBlue94]

Kiki is one of my favourites, I am glad that you covered it so well here.

[@camilleisabel]

This video made me cry, the world doesn't deserve Miyazaki. Such a beautifully worded and well put together video essay. Brava

[@internalilusion]

you make me feel so intelligent just by watching your content

[@mattjmjmjm4731]

It's sad that when most people hear the word romanticism they think it refers to love but it is a long built European way of life and philosophy, people should de more educated in such matters.

[@untitled-8538]

and is the european way of life and philosophy so great that we should bother ??

[@mattjmjmjm4731]

@@untitled-8538 I think people should be educated on Western and Eastern philosophy and culture.

[@mattjmjmjm4731]

@UCpSD_TOuDafTY2z4su3EBWA I'm not saying European culture is better than Japanese culture. I am really confused?

[@vs-ej1qc]

@@untitled-8538 it’s not about it being european, it’s about broadening your horizons and your cultural baggage, you don’t “bother” to learn if you’re interested in the subject, and this goes for everything, if you’re interested in learning more about certain things do it, if you’re not, don’t do it.

[@untitled-8538]

​@@vs-ej1qc i am interested in learning about other cultures, but why bother promoting the over-glorified european culture while they continue suppressing and oppressing other cultures to this day. If their philosophies are great then they are clearly never implemented. An example is the extreme individualism and lack of basic community, which ALSO came into place by oppressing (and continuing to oppress) their own people!

[@_sayen]

I'm so grateful for studio Ghibli. They make such great films and other animation studios like cartoon saloon or Pixar probably wouldn't be where they are today without Ghibli.

[@realbharbiexoxo]

Hayao knows that women are more inteligent but that men and women can coexist to bring something good to the world and I think that’s his dream, he want us to see, that together we are better than alone, love your vids so much, you are quality 🤍✨ hope you happy!!!

[@mattjmjmjm4731]

"women are more intelligent" he said that?

[@realbharbiexoxo]

@@mattjmjmjm4731 he clarify that on his movies and if you see his interviews he explain it all the time lmao

[@mattjmjmjm4731]

@@realbharbiexoxo Interesting to know :)

[@antonb5504]

I REALLY don’t think he ever said such a thing and if he did, he might’ve said it as a metaphor, and that’s coming from someone who has seen all of the documentaries on ghibli, and some interviews. He rather thinks they are equal which he wants to highlight in a world where men often take the spotlight

[@Frankiethenum1bunny]

This one made me tear up. So beautiful. You’re unreal.

[@BroeyDeschanel]

[@starry_skies]

Same TT it was very well done and now I wanna go rewatch a Miyazaki film.

[@mle97]

miyazaki's films are really a gift to NP personalities

[@dreamingblue3939]

INFP here. I feel very lucky to have grown up on Studio Ghibli's beautiful movies. They're likely the biggest inspiration for my own stories, art, and music.

[@yeseniatecaxco7545]

you are sooo right! I'm an ENFP and now it makes more sense why I have such a huge obsession with his movies and why they resonated so deeply to me. Thanks for pointing that out!

[@rennetakahashi1649]

i love this so much!! the simplistic yet oddly deep theme of Kiki's Delivery Service makes it one of my favorite Miyazaki films!! i love how Miyazaki is able to present deep themes of our society in such beautiful ways through his use of storytelling and animation..

[@cherrybepsi]

honestly i kind of did think of kiki's delivery service as boring the first time i watched it, probably a combo of the slow pacing and the themes of technological advancements going over my head, so your perspective really introduced another layer to it. loved the video! 💖

[@pleasedonotwatchmychannel]

Watched Tortrroo :) with my kiddos for the first time a little while ago, and I was most delighted by what a simple story it told, and how all the spectacle of the movie was focused on expressions of joy, rather than sensationalizing violent conflict. My kids (4 and 7) loved it, as well.

[@morgacl]

Kiki’s Delivery Service actually helped me recognize and deal with some of my own insecurities as a kid, and I think that speaks to the quality and impact of Miyazaki’s artistry. Excellent analysis, btw!

[@jonginisholy]

Oh wow im so early, i don't know what to say. Edit: i now feel the need to rewatch all of the miyazaki's films mentioned and just get in the feels.

[@robinsonfavour8450]

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[@jumpstart55million]

Yay!! A new video!!! And a Hiyu Miyazaki video at that. I'm so glad i found this channel. Might be my favorite KZbin channel. Hands done one of the most intellectually stimulating Film Analysis channels i have ever seen.

[@sophie7780]

omg just realized you put captions on your videos!! accessible queen!!!!

[@charlottecoville3147]

The dude announced he was stopping animation multiple times but the previous times came back to it, he just loved his job too much...

[@agustinagomez3587]

Kiki is my favorite Miyazaki film. I loved this video, it was very well thought out and researched. Thank youu and all the team that makes these videos!

[@italadz57]

Why are literally all your videos so good? You’re definitely my favorite video essayist :)

[@MellanClear]

Thank you for your always very enlightening videos. It's a true pleasure to listen to you

[@tristeno9618]

Kiki is my favorite Miyazaki film. Love the video!

[@lias2768]

thanks for always putting out great content :)) your videos are a true bliss to watch ! and i just finished a miyazaki binge yesterday, this must be a sign

[@shinypooka]

To me, Ghibli movies are like a euphonic phantasmagoria of whimsy and the sound of rain, the loving embrace of warm lights, the soft melodies overflowing with nostalgia and pleasantry. That childlike wonder captured and bottled into one sequence of piano notes. So simple, so kind, yet so very melancholic, so very wonderful.

[@hoeswayymedina]

Expertly portrayed and beautifully written, thank you for making this 🙏 just looking at Kiki makes me emotional 😭🙏

[@luckithirteen]

love love love your film analyses! so insightful, deeply considerate, and wonderfully unpretentious

[@VtheWanderer]

Wondrous work, as always. I am glad Kiki's Delivery Service is getting more love, it is quite the masterpiece and often gets overlooked. Also, random weird remark: I could listen to you talk for hours, your voice is so calm and comforting. For me it's like listening to rain pattering on my window, it's just wonderful and relaxing.

[@nikolkostopoulou9610]

His tales are truly inspiring and thought provoking, I'm so excited that you are going to cover him , your videos are also ✨ sublime ✨

[@Robersora]

Another amazingly written and produced video. Thank You!

[@kathyrose8750]

This is quickly becoming the channel I enjoy watching the most. Seriously good videos!

[@aralila9304]

Beautifully done! Articulated exactly what I took away from Kiki's Delivery Service - and what some other reviews have failed to.

[@electriksheep1508]

i love the way you speak... not to mention how good your videos are... thanks for putting out free content for us, i really appreciate it!❤️

[@fanartyr5151]

This video is one of my favourite of yours! Really enjoy watching you talk about film, relating it with the real world and making us realize that something as simple as watching movies, is actually a cultural education.

[@lauramiller1967]

this is my favorite video essay ive ever seen! im so glad you pointed about the eurocentricity of romanticism! and how you focused on kikis delivery service so many amazing points. i cant wait to watch the film again now :)

[@linamunar8795]

Amazing video!! Kiki is one of those films I keep going back to and every time I find something new. I think this videos express very well the feelings of the film brings ❤️

[@bcfwhaha]

This is my favorite video from this channel so far, I can’t wait to see what y’all make next ✨🌸💫💖

[@rzLLAMAS]

Miyazaki's preoccupation with the connection between the spiritual inner world and the natural world would have been a good place to start a conversation about Shintoism and its effect on Miyazaki's work. This animistic, earth-honoring tradition goes back thousands of years in Japan, and so probably has more of an influence on Miyazaki movies than Western Romanticism. That said, thank you for your perspective and a beautifully-produced video essay :D

[@guadarossifedyszyn9319]

I truly learnt a lot out of this analysis! I always felt attracted to Romanticism, and eager to learn about its ideals. But the definitions you can find online tend to lack the depht and meaning thay you've put in your video. Moreover, you chose to exemplify Romanticism with my favorite Ghibli film! I am thankful, speaking of which, since Kiki is often overshadowed for some reason. I am no one to make any value judgement but, great job! ♡

[@fictionalfinesse]

Casper David Friedrich deserves a mention. His art is used over and over in this video. An important influential romantic painter

[@kindredlucumita9385]

wow great analysis! I had not even thought about many of the thoughts and questions you raised in the video :)

[@natuvampire]

A beautiful analysis, thank you! I'd love to hear more about Miyazaki's work from you ^_^

[@JamesAHall101]

This was so great, I'm so glad I found this channel

[@zombieguy3000]

So happy I discovered this channel. Another great vid!

[@nosanovia3250]

This is amazing. I've been working on a miyazaki series for my blog and then this popped up. It seems Ghibli is in the hearts of many this December

[@doricashu4984]

I’m so glad I found your channel. This feels like home, you got a new life-long follower ✨ have a nice day and please keep posting 🙏🏾

[@grafffuller3265]

Thanks. Being someone who’s never seen any of his films, this was a great video essay.

[@brihutchison2155]

Thanks for your wonderful videos! I have been binging. You are so insightful. Looking forward to more!!

[@BrokenDarknessfilms]

This is a great video! But I'd still disagree to some extent with your framing of miyazaki's perspective on nature. It may be true that romanticism and ideas of the sublime made its way into post-war Japan from the west, but I feel like Miyazaki's perspective on nature comes from a place that's more rooted in traditional Japanese spirituality. To me, this idea comes through the most in something like Princess Mononoke which is set in Japan, where different aspects of nature (water, forest, etc) have individual gods related to them, as is the case in traditional Japanese spirituality. To me, it seems like that's partly where Miyazaki's reverence for nature stems from but I definitely don't think a framing of romanticism is wrong either. Just a different perspective!

[@justalittleguy733]

love!!!! brilliant vid as always

[@Azelanne]

There's something about the way you've explored the topic that made me tear up. Great video!

[@mils__]

Your content just keep getting better every video!!! Also loved the project, super cool.

[@lunafox_creations41190]

This video was so synchronized as parallel with my own journey and my love for all of what you said about the sublime! Thank you!!💗💗💗💗💗☝️

[@lightsubterfuge]

Very well done video! Kiki is my favorite Ghibli film and I still learn new things about it!

[@sarahrodes3177]

This has been one of my favorite movies since childhood, I loved this video!!

[@demonpirate5453]

Kiki is my favorite movie ever. I can not even count how many times I've watched it, yet this video opened my eyes to stuff I never realized. Great video and a great movie :)

[@marvel096]

amazing essay! kiki's delivery service is one of my favorite ghibli movies, it's in my top 3🥰 whisper of the heart is my number 1, i'd love to see some day a video about it since you have shizuku on your pfp

[@riannequigley7793]

This is such an interesting analysis. I've always enjoyed Romanticism and this was a very intelligent and cool use of the concept!

[@JoaoSilva-lv9bh]

Amazing review and with so many points to reflect Upon, a much needed point of view since i fell into the common analysis a few weeks ago when the movie aired on portuguese television, congrats!

[@RoryBecktar]

Lovely video on a lovely topic!

[@shahidanazish5723]

Amazing work as always. 💕💕

[@paula75313]

Your videos are always so interesting and inspiring. You make difficult and sometimes even tricky topics easy to understand and make all of us reflect a little bit about the world that surrounds us, you always make me go deeper and give a second thought to so many things, I must really say thank you!!! Also you are such an amazing narrator and your voice is so calming. Please keep all this great content coming!!! Greetings from Spain :)

[@gesundheitspakxt6641]

This project is an awesome idea :DD

[@jadefordah2502]

this channel is a gift from the universe

[@carloid]

Another video for me to add in my favorites! I love your analysis, it showed me what I failed to realize after I watched the film/s. More videos and subscribers to come! ❤

[@Lucas-si7oc]

Great video! Great job!

[@ondurix4810]

I am so glad my love for the ghibli movies let me find your channel. Just watched a few other videos of yours. This is exactly the content i am searching for on youtube. Thanks for your work :)

[@justinegan5021]

Excellent work as always

[@astonbean]

I've spent the last day bingeing your channel and heck I really love all your videos

[@cassandre3276]

I always enjoy watching your videos. Well done! 💚

[@Jujuoak]

I’ve been binge watching Miyazaki movies, and each time I watch them I see or realize something new. But I love to watch these videos that give further insight into what the films are about

[@KennedyDillingerCh33]

Found this by chance amongst the recommended... ...glad i took the chance :)

[@NickJerrison]

You just described why Kiki's Delivery Service has been my favorite Miyazaki film, maybe second only to Laputa. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this channel.

[@lauragiraldo7370]

this just beautiful, just like every single essay that yo make.

[@cloudgoose]

this was lovely, and absolutely does Miyazaki’s incredible filmmaking justice. I watched Kiki for the first time as an adult, and it’s always stood out to me as one of Miyazaki’s best. I think folks are rather dismissive of it because it’s a smaller feeling story compared to his more sweeping films. I appreciate your thoughtful analysis of it.

[@dancingheart6224]

Magic (which to me means putting dreams, inspiration, or desires to action), existentialism and depression, and sublime/romanticism and the almost surreal inexplicable metaphysical benefits humans receive from nature. Wow, what a movie! And what a movie analysis! You really did this movie justice! This entire movie analysis really put things into perspective for me as a college student who enjoys making music and art (but is studying something less creative for money's sake and not for my own desire) who never really paid attention to the messages of this movie as a child (but knows it by heart enough to approve of this video---my sister watched this VHS movie on repeat back in the day) and is now depressed and super interested in philosophy.

[@hyunjaekim8277]

Really enjoyed the explanation of how Miyazaki expresses his ambivalence to technology through his different methods of portraying aviation! I grew up with his movies and as a kid, I overlooked these symbolisms. Marvelous how many thought provoking layers his work of art ensues.

[@adventuretimelouishorts]

Wow I learned a lot from this! Thank you! Now I gotta watch all his movies again with more of a critical eye.

[@rubydawn9916]

I love his films but your analysis has made me love them even more 😄

[@Geekritique]

Thanks for this! Such a fascinating lens to examine Kiki’s Delivery Service by! Sublime and romanticism! Ahh, I love it. Great video!

[@BroeyDeschanel]

aww thank you! :) loved your vid as well!

[@arcie3716]

Just finished watching all the Ghibli movies with a friend. Love his work

[@OttWV]

I love the cut at 7:48. Such passion.

[@yuvraj6422]

After a good long week full of assignments , this video was much needed, am gonna start studying again on romanticism from tomorrow . ❤❤ Great video.

[@Ben-jx1ys]

Great essay!

[@secretfigs1932]

What a great video!!!!

[@aliciaescoto]

Thank you so much💜

[@natbergu7117]

nice video 😁 i like how you took an obvious idea in some not so obvious directions